Breakthru Films' Peter and the Wolf: A Hero Within a Communist-Era Village

For those who haven't had a chance to see it, a new performance of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf is being performed by youth symphonies around the country. What's different about these performances is the marvelously animated film which the orchestra accompanies. Breakthru Films in London created the animated short via stop-action technology, creating a new visual manifestation of the 1936 composition.

In 1946, Walt Disney produced a film version with narration by actor Sterling Holloway, whose voice-over often competed with the music. Other than some sound effects, Breakthru's film allows the visuals to tell the story and evoke the moods. It is a stark contrast to Disney, set in a rural, gritty, Communist-era farming village. Peter and his grandfather are no happy-go-lucky characters, but people who live under the weight of extreme poverty. Peter rarely smiles in this version, and has the look of an emotionally scarred child. And yet, he is the hero: the individual with cold determination who does the task that needs doing. It is a brilliant and moving film rendition, and one long overdue.

While these performances are marketed toward children, adults should fully enjoy this film as well. It has already won several industry awards, and on February 24 it competes in the animated shorts category of this year's Academy Awards. Breakthru Films has effectively revitalized Sergei Prokofiev's masterpiece, and by doing so, introduces Peter and the Wolf to potentially new audiences.

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